Cleaning slate tiles – top tips and tricks

First things first, if you’ve never heard of slate floors before, we’ve got a little primer for you. Slate flooring is a popular type of tile that uses natural stone. That also means it’s much more durable than other hard flooring types like vinyl or hardwood. Even conventional tiles are less durable. Slate is often used in kitchens. The stone look lends rooms a more natural feel because no tile will be exactly the same. They’re not the cheapest flooring but they can last a very long time.

1. Sweep or vacuum
   To ensure that your slate tiles last for a long time, it’s best to sweep them regularly. Little bits of debris can come off because the tiles naturally break into smaller pieces after they are first installed. This flaking off doesn’t continue forever and it will stop after a while. 
   
   You can get rid of dust and dirt by either sweeping or vacuuming your floors. Use a soft-brushed broom and avoid attachments that could scratch the floors when using a vacuum cleaner.
   
2. Avoid harsh cleaners
   Although slates are durable, you should avoid using very harsh or toxic cleaning products on them. Stone is a natural material and can be damaged easily. It’s best not to use acidic cleaners like lemon or vinegar. Also, steer clear of abrasive chemicals like special cleaning products or bleach. Don’t use oil-based cleaning products. These tend to make floors slippery and clog up the surface. 
   
3. Cleaning products
   The best cleaning products for slates are the simplest. Just mix some dish soap with warm water and off you go! You can buy special slate cleaning tools for improved results. Some products also offer superior protection against grease and oil-based stains on slates. Others are formulated for more heavy-duty cleaning or to remove mould and mildew.
   
4. Mopping slate floors
   When you’re ready to mop your floors, use a damp mop but wring out any excess water. Mop the floor slowly and wring out your mop often enough to avoid spreading dirt around. If there’s a lot of dish soap residue all over the floor after mopping, give it another go using just plain warm water. 
   
5. How to get rid of stains when cleaning slates?
   Most food remnants and stains should come away after you’ve mopped the floors. But sometimes stains can be persistent. A mild detergent and a little scrubbing should be your first attempt at removing any stains when you’re cleaning slates.
   

If that doesn’t help, sources claim that you can mix baking soda with a little peroxide for a more effective solution to treat stains. Just combine the peroxide and baking soda in equal amounts into a paste. Apply it to the stain, wait for a few minutes and then wipe it with a cloth. 

You can use rubbing alcohol to treat stains when slate cleaning. Just soak a stone in a mixture of half a cup of rubbing alcohol to four cups of water and then treat the stain by scrubbing it a little harder. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol on hand, you can try out hydrogen peroxide. Mix it with water 1:1, spray it onto the stain and allow it to settle for 10 minutes. Then simply scrub the stain and rinse it with water. 

If you want more advice on cleaning then you can take a look at our other articles on how to clean windows, how to clean a ceramic hob or gutter cleaning.